Clothes-drier.



No. 739,705. A PATENTED SEPT. 22, 1903. M. S. NOLAN.

CLOTHES DRIER.

AAPPLmslk'mN r11-.2n MAB. 4. 1903. no Monm..

UNITED STATES l Patented September 22, 1903.4. PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN S. NOLAN, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLOTHES-omen.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,705, dated September 22, 1903.

Application filed March 4, 1903. Serial No. 146.148. (No model.) A

To a/ZZ whom t may concern."

Be it known that I, MARTIN S. NoLAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Viral-V This invention relates toclothes driers or racks of that class which 'are secured against walls, and the purpose of the same is to construct a device of this class which lmay be readily adjusted to dispose the arms thereof in operative position or to project outwardly in a horizontal plane for use or to reduce the projection of the said arms and support therefor outward from a wall to a minimum when the rack is in disuse.

Broadly stated, the invention consists of a hanger, a supporting-table laterally shiftahle and loosely hinged to the lower end of the hanger, and a series of arms pivotally mounted on the table.

The invention further consists of a clothes drier or rack comprising a table having a series of arms pivotally mounted thereon and their rear ende projected inwardly beyond their pivotal points and so constructed that pressure applied to the outermost arms in an inward direction will simultaneouslyopen all of the arms.

The invention further consists in the detailsof construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed. l

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a wall clothes drier or rack embodying the features of the invention and showing the arms broken 0E, the drier or rack loeing arranged in operative position. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the drier or rack as shown arranged by Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front'y elevation of the drier o r rack', showing the table thereof let down to reduce the parts to compact form when not in use.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates ahanger having an upper opening 2 therein for the reception of a nail or. other support. The lower end of the hanger 1 is formed with 'a series of verticalslots 3, opening outwardly through the bottom edge thereof and adjacent to the opposite side edges on the front of the hanger, and close to the lower edge thereof straps 4 are secured and have barrels or knuckles 5 at their lower ends to loosely receive a pintlerod 6, having terminal knobs on the opposite ends thereof outside of the said barrels or knuckles 5. The pintle-rod 6 is longer than the width of the hanger 1 and is loosely passed through staples or analogous devices 7, secured in -the rear extremity of a table 8 in the central portion of tongues 9, defined by slots 10 and of slightly less width than the slots 3, into which said tongues' are adapted to he turned to reduce the drier or raclto compact form, as shown by Fig. 3. The table 8 is shiftable laterally in opposite directions f when disposed in horizontal position to'hringk the tongues 9 under the lower ends of stops 11, formed by the slots 3 at the lower end of the hanger 1. When the tongues 9 are under the stops 11, as shown by Fig. 1, the table 8 will be held in horizontal position, and the said stops and tongues are of such width as to resist breakage by Weight-pressure im: posed thereon. On the outer surface of the table 8 a seriesof arms 12 is fulcrumed,

.and said arms `have their rear ends 13 projected in the rear of the fulcru m-points thereof. Thev inner edges of the ends 13 of the outer arms 12 are cut away to form bevels 14, and the inner opposing edges of the intermediate arms 12 are also cut away at greater angles to form bevels 15. By beveling the ends 13 of the arms 12 in the manner set forth they can be drawn in close relation when the arms are spread outwardly or separated. The outer arms 1'2 have headed studs or knobs 16, rising from therear terminals of the inner ends 13 thereof, and the outer portions of said studs are cut away, as at 17, to permit the fingers of the hand of the operator to he firmly applied thereagainst. Bysimultaneouslypressing inwardly on the knobs 16 tho arms 12 Will be regularly separated, this separation being automatic and permitted in View of the inner edge bevels 14 and '15, heretofore'explained, the hevels 15 being longer than thehevels 14. When it is desired to collapse the arms 12, the outer ones are drawn inwardly toward the IOO intermediate arms until they assume the position shown by Fig. 3.

When the drier or rack is not in use, the table 8 is shifted laterally until the tongues 9 coincide with the slots 3, and thus permitthe said table to be let down in a vertical plane. The hanger l and table 8 have the same thickness and are preferably constructed from wood, and when the table is let down, as shown by Fig. 3, the outer surface of the table will be flush with the outer surface of the hanger, and the arms 12 will depend from the table 8 in close relation and form a very slight projection outwardly from the wall or other support on which the drier or rack is mounted. When it is desired touse the drier or rack, the table S is elevated until the tongues 9 clear the slots 3, and when this clearance is effected the ctable will be in horizontal position and can be moved laterally in either direction to bring the tongues 9 under the stops l1, as shown by Fig. 1, and thus retain the said table in horizontal position. The arms are then spread or separated by engaging the knobs 16, as heretofore explained.

The table can be readily assembled in operative relation to the hanger through the medium of the pintle-rod 6 in view of the fact that the knobs 18 of the ends of said rod can be readily detached, as they are formed with screw-threaded sockets to engage threads on the rod ends. It it is desired to detach the table, the pintle-rod 6 is withdrawn therefrom and from the knuckles 5, and after said rod has been reset or inserted through the knuckles it may be employed for supporting other devices, such as razor-strops and the like. The degree of separation of the arms 12 may also be varied at will by changing the angle of the bevels 14 and 15, and in large -driers or racks adapted for holding heavier articles the shifting movement of the table 8 may be increased to more fully bring the tongues 9 under the stops 11 to set up ay greater resistance commensurate to the extra weight strain.

It is proposed to vary the dimensions of the improved drier or rack at will and also to modify the minor details of construction without in the least sacrificing the essential features.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the class set forth, the

.combination of a hanger, a table loosely hinged and laterally shiftable in relation to the lower end of the hanger, and a series of arms movably mounted on one side of the table.

2. A drier or rack, comprisinga hanger having the lower end thereof slotted to form stops, a table having a series of faces at its rear end defined by slots therebetween and loosely shiftable in relation to the lower end of the hanger, and a series of arms movably mounted on the table.

3. A drier or rack, comprising a hanger with a lower slotted end, a table having a rear slotted end and laterally shiftable in relation to the lower end of the hanger, means for pivotally connecting the table and hanger,

and a series 'of armsmovably mounted on theV and a series of arms movably mounted on the' table.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN S. NOLAN.

Witnesses:

FRANK P. KENNEY, THOMAS F. KEARNS. 

